North Korea admits to nuclear testing

Updated
February 13, 2013 07:32:00

North Korea has admitted it successfully exploded a miniaturised nuclear device, sparking broad condemnation from the international community. The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting at UN headquarters in New York. North Korea's sole major ally, China, agreed with other members that the test was provocative.

TONY EASTLEY: North Korea has caused consternation around the world and pushed itself into a dangerous new sphere of retaliatory action after it admitted it successfully exploded a miniaturised nuclear device.

The international community has universally condemned North Korea's test. The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting in New York. Even North Korea's sole major ally, China, agreed with other members that the test was provocative.

Brendan Trembath reports from the ABC's North America bureau.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: The 15 member United Nations Security Council has had an emergency meeting and all present agreed North Korea had gone too far.

The council president is South Korea's Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan.

KIM SUNG-HWAN: The members of the Security Council strongly condemn this test, which is a grave violation of Security Council Resolution 1718 in 2006, 1874 in 2009 and 2087 in 2013.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: Mr Kim says there is a clear threat to international peace and security.

KIM SUNG-HWAN: With its recent long range missile launches, North Korea's nuclear test poses a direct challenge to the whole international community.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: The nuclear test was conducted in a tunnel in a remote mountain range.

The US president Barack Obama has labelled it a highly provocative act.

North Korea's sole major ally China has also condemned it.

The US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland says the US and China have had a series of discussions on North Korea.

VICTORIA NULAND: And we've been exchanging notes back and forth at all levels about the possibility that the DPRK would take another provocative step along the lines of the step that they took today.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: When the US secretary of state John Kerry started in his job he spoke to his Chinese counterpart.

VICTORIA NULAND: Foreign Minister Yang was one of the first counterparts that Secretary Kerry spoke to when he took up his duties and DPRK concerns did come up in that phone call as well.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: In the days to come there will be more conversations to consider appropriate action against North Korea.

Susan Rice represents the United States at the United Nations.

SUSAN RICE: We and others have a number of further measures that we will be discussing with council members in various spheres that will not only tighten the existing measures but we aim to augment the sanctions regime that is already quite strong.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: North Korea already faces heavy sanctions. UN member states can search any North Korean ships carrying suspicious cargoes. And there's a ban on selling the North any material and technology that could be used in weapons of mass destruction.